MACHINERY | ALTERNATIVE EXTRUDERS
variety of recyclates need to be addressed,” he says. “Continuous mixers offer a number of processing advantages. As well as the large feed port, the non-intermeshing, counter rotating rotors and large free volume mixing chamber can tolerate the often abrasive nature of recycled materials. In addition, the clamshell rotor chamber opening and straightforward drive coupling design make managing any feeding upsets and subsequent return to productivity very efficient.”
Lloyd says the continuous mixing technology is
Above: The CP1000
compounder from Farrel- Pomini
Right: Farrel-Pomini’s continuous mixing technol- ogy is based on two counter- rotating,
non-intermesh- ing rotors that run in a large free volume mixing chamber
22
important to maintain the integrity of the polymer, including molecular weight, which is extremely important for processing bioplastics. Energy efficiency is also often a primary consideration when selecting compounding equipment and can be a competitive advantage for processors. Our technology is engineered for good energy efficien- cy and utilises significantly less energy in compari- son to competing technologies.” Compounding recycled plastic materials can be a complex process because recyclates are intrinsi- cally contaminated, often partially degraded, and contain different pigments and granule sizes that make processing challenging. Farrel Pomini says that its continuous mixers offer several advantages for compounders of recycled materials: the large single-entry feed port is capable of ingesting irregularly sized feedstocks as well as large amounts of additives and fillers; the large rotor tip-to-wall clearances and mixing chamber volume allows efficient processing at controlled tempera- tures, increased material flow, high filler levels and reduced sensitivity to foreign materials in feed- stocks; and good temperature control is achieved by the efficient shear levels imparted by the rotor geometry in combination with adjustable dams and orifice position.
Recycling gains Farrel Pomini says its research and development is consistently working to provide product develop- ments that improve efficiencies and contribute additional value to current customers, as well as for companies for whom the technology is new. “Recycled materials and temperature sensitive materials present challenges that will require innovations in processing technology,” Lloyd adds. “Recycled materials have become extremely prevalent in compounding and the increasing
COMPOUNDING WORLD | October 2020
www.compoundingworld.com
particularly effective in processing of temperature sensitive materials because of the controlled levels of shear imparted into the polymer blend, the high heat extraction rates from the chamber and rotor, and the minimal residence times. Farrel Pomini also has a number of hard surfac- ing options for both rotors and chamber liners that provide an optimised long life surface for abrasive materials. These surfaces also increase drag flow, improving conveying efficiency of the compound that increases production rates. In most cases, the mixing chamber can be supplied with replaceable hard metal liners.
With the single-entry feed port, materials are fed into the mixer either separately or as a pre-blend; liquids can be injected directly into the mixing chamber. This straightforward feeding method eliminates the need for side feeders, which the company says lead to increased energy expense and heat exposure to the polymer. Continuous mixing technology utilises atmospheric venting, eliminating additional vacuum systems that also add to the process energy bill. The company’s most recent equipment addition
is the CPeX Laboratory Compact Processor. “As a compact processor, it contains an independently controlled mixer and extruder on a single frame and has a nominal production rate of 10–30 kg/h, which is suitable for testing and development,”
IMAGE: FARREL-POMINI
IMAGE: FARREL-POMINI
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